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Love Profusion

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"Love Profusion"
Song
B-side"Nothing Fails"
"Nobody Knows Me"

"Love Profusion" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna for her ninth studio album American Life (2003). Written and produced by Madonna and Mirwais Ahmadzaï, it was released as the fourth and final single from the album on December 8, 2003, by Maverick Records. "Love Profusion" was first premiered during the release of the album on AOL website. It later received a number of remixes, which were also released alongside the single. The song contains rhythm from a four piece bass drum, with guitar riffs of the acoustic guitar and Madonna's voice backed by a male vocal during the chorus. Ahmadzaï used the stutter edit to create a new groove. Dedicated to director, and Madonna's then-husband, Guy Ritchie, the song's lyrics deals with questions, solutions, resurrections and confusions of Madonna about the American culture.

After its release, "Love Profusion" received generally favorable reviews from music critics. Reviewers called it as the highlight of American Life, complimenting the dance beats and the acoustic guitar fusion in its composition, although some thought that the tune was repetitive in lieu of the other songs from the album. "Love Profusion" failed to chart in the US Billboard Hot 100 as its predecessors from American Life, but it reached number one on the dance charts and the singles sales chart. The song achieved moderate success internationally, reaching the top five in Canada, Italy, while topping the charts in Spain.

The accompanying music video of the song was directed by Luc Besson and was shot at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California. It featured Madonna in front of a greenscreen effect with her walking through a city, until walking into a surreal background, filled with red flowers, sea and fairies. "Love Profusion" also appeared on Estée Lauder "Beyond Paradise" fragrance television commercial, which was similar to the music video and was directed by Besson, but featured supermodel Carolyn Murphy. The advertisement debuted in more than 10,000 cinemas across the country.

Background and remixes

According to biographer Lucy O'Brien, nothingness is the main theme of American Life; it appears in the titles of songs like "Nobody Knows Me" and "Nothing Fails" and in the repetition of the word "no" in "Love Profusion". Madonna's negative tone in this song and throughout the album allowed her to be sarcastic about people's assumptions about her and to emphasize her knowledge of romantic love.[1] The tracks from American Life were released to AOL for digital download. Since Madonna was the "Artist of the Month" at AOL website, "Love Profusion" was premiered there on April 14, 2003, as part of AOL's First Listen program.[2][3] Several remixes of the song, done by DJs such as The Passengerz, Craig J., Blow-Up and Ralphi Rosario, were included on physical releases of the single around the world, released on December 8, 2003, in the United Kingdom and March 16, 2004 in the United States.[4][5][6]

The remixes were premiered by Warner Bros. Records at the 2003 Winter Music Conference in Miami, where Peter Rauhofer, Rosario and Blow-Up played their remixes of "Love Profusion". Blow-Up also debuted their own version of "Good Boys" (2003) by Blondie, and remixes of Madonna's previous single, "Hollywood".[7] An extended version of the "Love Profusion" remix, titled "Headcleanr Rock Mix", was also included on Madonna's remix album Remixed & Revisited (2003).[8] Michael Paoletta of Billboard called the remix "a new-wave-styled-rock tune", a "blast of fresh air" and an "essential listening experience".[5] John Payne from LA Weekly compares the lyrics of the song ("Only you, make me feel good") with the cautionary lyrics of "X-Static Process", in which the protagonist loses herself in her lover's ego.[9]

Recording and composition

"Love Profusion" was composed and produced by Madonna and Mirwais Ahmadzaï.[10] The song is dedicated to Madonna's then-husband, director Guy Ritchie.[11] The recording sessions for American Life started in late 2001, but was put on hold as Madonna filmed Swept Away in Malta and starred in the West End play Up for Grabs. She returned to the Olympic Recording Studios in late 2002 and finished the sessions.[10][12]

The mixing for the track was done by Mark "Spike" Stent at the Westlake Recording Studios at West Hollywood, California, and Tim Young did the mastering of the song at Metropolis Studios in London. Tom Hannen and Simon Changer served as assistant engineers during the recording. Ahmadzaï played the guitars and provided its backing vocals.[10] According to the sheet music published at Sheetmusicplus.com, "Love Profusion" is written in common time with a moderately fast tempo of 120 beats per minute.[13] According to a writer from The Arizona Republic, it is an electronica-meets-folk song and is composed in the key of C major with Madonna's voice spanning from B3 to F5.[13][14]

Ahmadzai used the technique of making the music freeze midrhythm throughout American Life, including "Love Profusion".[15][16] One technique was the stutter edit, which Ahmadzaï clarified was not characteristic of his production and recording. "People get upset because they think it is not natural to skip and stutter the music. But I do it because it is natural. The stuttering can help you create a new groove", he said.[15] The track starts with a "strummy" acoustic guitar introduction, as described by Michael Paoletta from Billboard,[5] on the four-chord progression of Bm–Fm–A–E sequence. The folk rock inspired song has elements of electronica and filk at its core. Its rhythm is produced by a four piece bass drum—which fades in and out abruptly—and atmospheric synth-strings, which are added later in the song.[17]

Madonna sings in the first verse: "There are too many options/There is no consolation/I have lost my illusions/What I want is an explanation." According to Rolling Stone, although not explicitly stated, the lines confirm Madonna's belief that American culture will not "give her an explanation", so she had rejected American values, and along with them her own values.[18] She repeats the line "I got you under my skin" while a male voice acts as the backing for the track. The song ends with Madonna singing the final words, "feel good", performed without any backing instrumental.[17] The lyrics of the song deals with questions, solutions, resurrections, confusions and other broad topics of a neo-philosophical nature.[19] Edna Gundersen of USA Today compared its composition and Madonna's performance with a love letter.[20] The Advocate called it "a plaintive love letter to her husband".[21]

Critical reception

"Blessedly, there's plenty of soul elsewhere on American Life. For most of the gorgeous 'Love Profusion', Madonna wraps her voice — that candy-coated piece of plastic we've come to know and love — around a simple acoustic-guitar hook and some achy lyrics: 'There is no comprehension/There is real isolation/There is so much destruction/What I want is a celebration.'

—Josh Tyrangiel from Time talking about the song.[22]

"Love Profusion" received generally positive reviews from music critics. Michael Paoletta from Billboard described the song as a "sparse number" and said that it was a "good fit" for the radio.[5] Ken Tucker from Entertainment Weekly called it "lovely".[23] Ian Youngs of BBC News commented that "Love Profusion" is one of the highlights from the album, with layers of dance beats and acoustic guitar that made it a more complete song.[24] A writer for Daily Record described it as a "stunningly beautiful ballad" and considered it as one of the many highlights from American Life.[11] Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine called it "dull" and wrote that "it was reinvented into a vibrant piece of guitar-driven pop-rock by Ray Carroll."[25] Ben Ratliff from Rolling Stone deduced that with lyrics like "I got you under my skin", Madonna conveyed the theme of gaining transcendence through detachment, "but finally American Life comes across as defeatist more than anything else".[18] Dan Aquilante from New York Post was dismissive of the track, saying that although there was nothing wrong with the guitar-driven composition of the track, it was not different from the strings and orchestration of other tracks from American Life, like "Nothing Fails" or "Easy Ride".[26] Robert Hilburn, while reviewing American Life for The Press of Atlantic City, listed the track as one of the songs that could "save" the album from being a "profound fail".[27] Ross Raihala, writing for The Olympian listed the track as a standout on American Life, in contrast to the "dreary, directionless dance numbers and plodding ballads" on the album.[28]

Caroline Bansal from musicOMH gave a mixed review for the song, feeling that the singer's vocals over the Spanish guitar was monotonous. She felt that the chorus was more melodic but it was the lyrics and the dance beats which did not complete the track. Bansal said that "Love Profusion" could have been composed better.[4] Ed Howard from Stylus Magazine wrote that "Love Profusion", along with the song "Intervention", "address Madonna's marriage to director Guy Ritchie", and "find the once-cynical pop star surprisingly open and emotional, which prompts her to spit out cliché after cliché as she tells us how happy she is".[29] Alan Braidwood from BBC Music felt that the song was the most straight forward dance track on the album. He added that "this is one of those [songs] which could become a favorite and it feels like a classic upbeat Madonna song. It fuses the message behind the song American Life with Mirwais' beats and acoustic elements really well".[30] Sean O'Brien from The People complimented the song for its "great melody and acoustic guitar flavor to it", and deduced that it would be a hit in the night clubs.[31] Dan Gennoe from Dotmusic website gave a positive review of the track, calling "Love Profusion", along with "Intervention" and "X-Static Process" from American Life, "gracious" and "beautiful" songs.[32] In 2012, website AfterElton.com listed "Love Profusion" at number 91 on their list of "The 100 Greatest Madonna Songs".[33]

Chart performance

"Love Profusion" did not chart on the US Billboard Hot 100 or the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles, making it the third consecutive single from American Life to fail to chart in the US. However, the song peaked at number 41 and "The Passengers Mix" topped on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. The song has also topped the Hot Singles Sales and appeared on the Hot Dance Singles Sales charts for five weeks.[34][35] At the year-end Hot Dance Singles Sales recap, "Love Profusion" was at number three position, while "Me Against the Music" was at number one and "Nothing Fails" was at number two. Billboard reported that Madonna was the first artist in its chart history to have the top three Dance Sales songs. The song also ranked at number 24 on the year-end Dance Club Play tally.[36] In Canada, the song peaked at number three on the Canadian Singles Chart.[37]

In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at its peak of number eleven on December 20, 2003, with sales of 15,361 copies, becoming Madonna's first song to miss the top ten since "One More Chance" (1996).[38][39] The following week, it dropped to number 33 on the chart, ultimately remaining there for sex weeks.[40][41] "Love Profusion" reached a peak of number three on the UK Airplay Chart in five weeks, but quickly descended.[42] As of August 2008, the song has sold 41,025 copies according to The Official Charts Company.[43] In Australia, the song debuted at its peak of number 25 on December 28, 2003. It remained on the chart for another seven weeks.[44] "Love Profusion" debuted at number 27 on the French Singles Chart on November 30, 2003. In its second week, it reached its peak of number 25.[45] The song was popular in Italy, reaching the top ten there,[46] and achieved commercial success in Spain, debuting at number one on its singles chart.[47] On the Swiss Singles Chart, the song peaked at number 31, falling out of the chart at number 100.[48]

Music video

Madonna being covered by fairies at the end of the official music video.

A few weeks before the official music video's release in November 2003, Madonna's manager Caresse Henry confirmed video plans for "Love Profusion".[49] It was directed by Luc Besson and shot on September 2003, at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California.[50] Besson later directed Madonna in the 2007 animated film Arthur and the Invisibles.[51] "There are a lot of special effects. I talked to things that weren't there – which is what you do when you're doing green-screen or blue-screen stuff. There's going to be a lot of fairies dancing around me. Isn't that exciting? I always have a lot of fairies dancing around me", Madonna commented about the music video.[52] The video premiered in the US on February 11, 2004 on AOL's First View. After the premiere, it was streamed on Yahoo!, MSN, Windows Media, Apple, MTV, VH1, iFilm and Madonna.com.[53]

The video begins with Madonna walking at night in the middle of the street of an American city surrounded by skyscrapers and wind. Then she finds herself in another dimension, as moving flowers surround her. As the video advances, Madonna walks on other different kinds of roads. She walks on a path of red flowers in the sky, and then walks on her knees on a deep, blue colored sea, as she is followed by little white fairies. At the end of the video, when there is destruction in the real dimension, Madonna finds peace and is surrounded by the fairies. When they go away, Madonna disappears altogether.[54]

Usage in media

"Love Profusion" was used on the Estée Lauder "Beyond Paradise" fragrance television advertisement.[55] It was also directed by Luc Besson and shot the same day than the official music video.[56] The Estée Lauder advertisement featured supermodel Carolyn Murphy wandering through a world full of water, and surrounded by flowers and fairies while "Love Profusion" played in the background.[57] The 30 second commercial debuted in more than 10,000 cinemas in September, while the television version of the advertisement aired on MTV, VH1, E! and Style Network.[57] Estée Lauder group president Patrick Bousquet-Chauvanne explained that they "wanted the advertising to be groundbreaking for Estée Lauder... The association of Luc Besson, Madonna and Carolyn Murphy will make for an exceptional visual and acoustic experience for movie and television audiences around the world."[57] The Olympian's Ross Raihala wrote that it made sense that "Love Profusion" was used as the soundtrack for the commercial, and felt like it was another attempt by Madonna to "salvage her career" following the commercial disappointment of American Life.[28]

Track listings and formats

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel adapted from American Life album liner notes.[10]

Charts

See also

Notes

  1. ^ O'Brien 2007, pp. 267–268
  2. ^ Garrity, Brian (2004-04-12). "Madonna's 'American Life' Single Available As Download, MP3". Billboard. 116 (12). New York: Nielsen Business Media, Inc: 48. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
  3. ^ "Listen to three new Madonna songs". Icon: Official Madonna Website. Madonna.com. 2003-04-11. Archived from the original on 2013-01-23. Retrieved 2013-01-23. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 2003-10-12 suggested (help)
  4. ^ a b Bansal, Caroline (2003-12-08). "Madonna – Love Profusion (Maverick)". musicOMH. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
  5. ^ a b c d e Caulfield, Keith; Paoletta, Michael (2004-03-06). "Essential Reviews". Billboard. 116 (10). Nielsen Business Media, Inc: 36. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
  6. ^ a b (single). Warner Music Group. 2004. 42703-2. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |name= ignored (help)
  7. ^ Paoletta, Michael (2004-03-20). "Beat Box: Highlights From Dance's Big Week In Miami". Billboard. 116 (12). New York: Nielsen Business Media, Inc: 48. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
  8. ^ Remixed & Revisited (CD). Maverick, Warner Bros. Records. 2003. p. 3. 54699-00867. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |notestitle= ignored (help)
  9. ^ Payne, John (2003-05-08). "American Heart Coming home to Madonna". LA Weekly. Voice Media Group. p. 2. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  10. ^ a b c d "American Life - Madonna: Credits". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  11. ^ a b Byline, Jooles (2003-12-12). "The Razz: the razz singles and albums". Daily Record. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
  12. ^ O'Brien 2007, p. 266
  13. ^ a b Ciccone, Madonna (2005). "Digital Sheet Music – Madonna – Love Profusion". Sheetmusicplus.com. Webo Girl Publishing Inc, ASCAP.
  14. ^ "CD Spins". The Arizona Republic. Gannett Company. 2003-05-01. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
  15. ^ a b Micallef, Ken (2003-06-01). "Covert Operation". Electronic Musician. NewBay Media. Archived from the original on 2003-06-10. Retrieved 2013-02-23. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 2003-06-18 suggested (help)
  16. ^ Rooksby 2004, p. 62
  17. ^ a b Rooksby 2004, p. 63
  18. ^ a b Ratliff, Ben (2003-04-22). "Madonna: American Life: Reviews". Rolling Stone. Jann Wenner. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
  19. ^ D., Spencer (2003-04-23). "Madonna – American Life – Music Review at IGN". IGN. News Corporation. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
  20. ^ Gundersen, Edna (2003-04-21). "Madonna's inner 'American Life'". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
  21. ^ Flick, Larry (2003-04-15). "All-American girl". The Advocate. 887 (08). Here Media: 62. ISSN 09128-48220. Retrieved 2013-01-23. {{cite journal}}: Check |issn= value (help)
  22. ^ Tyrangiel, Josh (2003-04-20). "This (Sad) American Life". Time. Time Inc. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
  23. ^ Tucker, Ken (2003-04-25). "American Life Review: Madonna". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved 2013-01-09.
  24. ^ Youngs, Ian (2003-04-21). "Madonna's dull Life story". BBC Music. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
  25. ^ Cinquemani, Sal (2008-07-11). "Madonna "American Life"". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
  26. ^ Aquilante, Dan (2003-04-17). "Cagey Madonna". New York Post. News Corporation. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  27. ^ Hilburn, Robert (2003-04-22). "A Diva In Decline?". The Press of Atlantic City. Abarta Inc. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
  28. ^ a b Raihala, Ross (2003-10-30). "Madonna tries to jump-start career". The Olympian. The McClatchy Company. Archived from the original on 2013-02-26. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  29. ^ Howard, Ed (2003-09-01). "Madonna "American Life"". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
  30. ^ Braidwood, Alan (2003-04-10). "Madonna 'American Life' – album review". BBC Music. British Broadcasting Corporation. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2003-07-28. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  31. ^ O'Brien, Sean (2003-04-06). "Hot People: New Madge CD is American Beauty". The People. Time Inc. Archived from the original on 2003-04-25. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
  32. ^ Gennoe, Dan (2003-04-21). "Madonna – American Life". Dotmusic. Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on 2004-06-15. Retrieved 2013-02-26. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 2004-01-15 suggested (help)
  33. ^ Virtel, Louis (2012-03-02). "The 100 Greatest Madonna Songs". AfterElton.com. Logo TV. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
  34. ^ a b c "Hot Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. 116 (9). New York: Nielsen Business Media, Inc: 44. 2004-02-28. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
  35. ^ a b Bronson, Fred (2005-12-23). "Mariah Notches 17th Hot 100 Chart-Topper". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original on 2013-02-28. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  36. ^ a b c Bronson, Fred (2004-12-25). "Men Prance, Ladies Dance On The Charts". Billboard. 116 (52). New York: Nielsen Business Media, Inc: 20, 54. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2013-02-14.
  37. ^ a b c "Madonna :Awards And Chart History". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2010-02-10.
  38. ^ Jones, Alan (2005-11-14). "Madonna and Il Divo top charts". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  39. ^ a b "2003 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive". UK Singles Chart. Official Charts Company. 2003-12-20. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
  40. ^ "2003 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive". UK Singles Chart. Official Charts Company. 2003-12-27. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
  41. ^ "Madonna | Artist | Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  42. ^ Rose, James (2006-02-25). "Online PR moves into new gear". Music Week. Intent Media. p. 2. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  43. ^ Jones, Alan (2008-08-19). "The immaculate guide to 50 years of Madonna". Music Week. Intent Media. Archived from the original on 2008-08-25. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
  44. ^ a b "Madonna – Love Profusion". ARIA Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  45. ^ a b "Madonna – Love Profusion". French Singles Chart. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  46. ^ a b "Madonna – Love Profusion". Italian Singles Chart. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  47. ^ a b "Hits of the World: Spain". Billboard. 116 (14). Nielsen Business Media, Inc: 56. 2004-04-03. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  48. ^ a b "Madonna – Love Profusion". Swiss Music Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  49. ^ "Ask Caresse Henry". Icon: Official Madonna Website. Madonna.com. 2003-10-22. Archived from the original on 2013-01-23. Retrieved 2013-01-23. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 2003-12-19 suggested (help)
  50. ^ Vineyard, Jennifer (2003-10-27). "Madonna's Got A Brand New Bag — And Britney's In It". VH1. Viacom. Archived from the original on 2005-08-29. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  51. ^ "Atari Ships 'Arthur and the Invisibles'". Entertainment Wire. The Free Library. 2007-01-09. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
  52. ^ D'Angelo, Joe; Cornell, Jeff (2003-11-14). "Madonna Dances With Fairies And Wishes For Animated 'Roses'". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
  53. ^ "Love Profusion Debut". Icon: Official Madonna Website. Madonna.com. 2004-02-07. Archived from the original on 2013-01-23. Retrieved 2013-01-23. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 2003-12-19 suggested (help)
  54. ^ Oleksy & Rydzewska 2004, p. 137
  55. ^ "Beyond Paradise, the latest Estee Lauder". Entertainment Wire. The Free Library. 2003-10-01. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
  56. ^ Vineyard, Jennifer (2003-10-27). "Madonna's Got A Brand New Bag — And Britney's In It". VH1. Viacom. Archived from the original on 2005-08-29. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  57. ^ a b c "Madonna Sings For Estee Lauder". Vogue. Condé Nast Publications. 2003-08-15. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  58. ^ (single). Warner Music Group. 2003. 9362-42693-2. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |name= ignored (help)
  59. ^ (single). Warner Music Group. 2003. 5439 16443 2. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |name= ignored (help)
  60. ^ (single). Warner Music Group. 2003. 9362 42694 0. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |name= ignored (help)
  61. ^ (single). Warner Music Group. 2003. 9362 42692 2. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |name= ignored (help)
  62. ^ (single). Warner Music Group. 2003. 9362 42693 2. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |name= ignored (help)
  63. ^ (single). Warner Music Group. 2003. PRO-A-101259-A. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |name= ignored (help)
  64. ^ "Keresés lista és dátum szerint: 2003/26" (in Hungarian). Association of Hungarian Record Companies. Retrieved 2013-01-23.

References